Teen Critical, Bystanders Injured, in East Harlem Triple Shooting

Three people were injured, one critically, during a shooting in Harlem on Sept. 28, 2011.View Full Caption

DNAinfo/Ben Fractenberg

HARLEM — Three people were wounded, including one critically, during a wild shooting on East 122nd Street Wednesday night that sent people running for cover, authorities said.

An 18-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to the neck in the fusillade near Third Avenue just before 6 p.m. and was rushed to Harlem Hospital in critical condition, the NYPD said.

Cops said the shooter was targeting the 18-year-old, but also struck two male bystanders outside a deli on the block.

Sources believe the incident may have stemmed from an ongoing dispute between the shooter and the teen victim, who was shot at while sitting inside his car a couple of weeks ago.

A local resident who was inside a nearby laundromat said she heard four or five shots fired and people yelling.

“People started running in the Laundromat,” said Kim, 40, who declined to provide her last name. “They said, ‘Somebody’s shooting!’ I panicked.”

Another neighbor said she saw dozens of young men surrounding police at the scene just after the shooting.

“They got out of control,” said the woman, 31, who also declined to provide her name. “It’s sad because it’s little kids.”

One of the bystanders, 49, was shot in the back and taken to St. Luke’s Hospital in stable condition. The other victim, 35, was shot in the buttocks and transported to Metropolitan Hospital in stable condition.

The 18-year-old victim managed to stumble around the corner to Third Avenue, where he collapsed in front of a pharmacy, police added.

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